Sage Products in Cary, IL began to notice a problem with shipping and delivery drivers entering its building without supervision, having full access to the warehouse floor. The truck drivers entering the building were not only a security issue, but due to the nature of a warehouse and busy shipping areas, they also created a potential safety issue with busy fork truck traffic and other machinery working in the area.
If a truck driver could enter the building and have free access to wander throughout the facility, then anyone else could potentially have the same access. This leads to the risk of losing valuable inventory, as well as safety hazards and insurance claims from untrained and unauthorized personnel in the facility.
Containing Building Visitors for Safety & Security
Mike Wall with Container Systems of Westmont, IL was contacted to help solve this problem. Container Systems sells a full line of material handling products in the Chicago area, including WireCrafters wire partitions, secure storage cages, and condominium storage lockers.
Wall suggested a WireCrafters Driver & Building Access Cage to contain truck drivers and building visitors to a confined area away from inventory, while also keeping them safe from warehouse traffic and machinery.
Driver Access Cage Design
A typical Driver Access Cage (or Man Trap) is approximately 6 x 6 x 8 ft high. In most cases it is a 3-sided cage with a ceiling that butts up to an existing building wall.
When a delivery or shipping driver enters the building from an existing door, the driver is enclosed inside the cage, preventing him from walking through the facility. Most Driver Cages are equipped with a service window with a shelf where the driver can sign for his shipment and transfer other paperwork to warehouse employees.
Although the wire partition cage does have a 3 x 7 ft hinged door, the driver does not have the ability to open the door and must remain in the building access cage.
Access Cage Doubles as Employee Entrance
Sage Products had WireCrafters add an electromagnetic lock to the Driver Access Cage inside door that would work with its existing card readers. This allowed Sage's employees to enter through the exterior door, swipe their employee badge or card on the electromagnetic card reader on the inside of the Driver Access Cage, and enter into the secured warehouse area.
On the warehouse side of the door, a full width push bar was installed for quick exit. This push bar allows employees to exit the work area without having to use a keycard at the end of their shifts or in case an emergency requires them to leave the area quickly.
Safety, Security, and Separation
When asked why he chose a WireCrafters Driver Access Cage for this project, Container Systems' Mike Wall replied, "The choice was easy – It's the best security partition system on the market."